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June 07, 2006

Retrohump day - Billy Preston's Stamp | MP3

Billy Preston, the man with the golden resume passed away at the age of 59 yesterday. Probably best known for his work with the Beatles, the organ wizard performed alongside some the best known names in music.

With the Stones he jammed on the rollicking “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” blues standout from Sticky Fingers. He wrote Joe Cocker’s biggest hit, “You are so Beautiful.” Preston appeared on a plethora of classic albums, George Harrison’s post Beatles purge All Things Must Pass, the Rolling Stones’ Exile on Main Street, and Clapton’s Reptile, to name a few. Most recently he appeared on the Chili Peppers Stadium Arcadium performing on the song “Warlocks.” A famous jazz dude even wrote a song titled “Billy Preston” in his honor, that person was Miles Davis.

The Black Beatle

Preston appeared on the final Beatles album Let It Be as well as the film documentary chronicling the difficult recording of that album. Preston was credited for fostering cohesion to a fractured band trying to recapture fleeting magic. His presence was said to help the Beatles shelve the constant quarrelling that defined the Let It Be sessions:

"It's interesting to see how people behave nicely when you bring a guest in, because they don't really want everybody to know they're so bitchy...suddenly everybody's on their best behavior. So I put out a message to find if Billy was in town, and told him to come in to Saville Row, which he did. Straight away it just became 100% improvement in the vibe in the room and everybody was happier, also, to have somebody else playing in the band...." – George Harrison

Patti Labelle, Joe Cocker and Billy Preston – You are So Beautiful - Apollo Theatre 1985

Mr. J-E-L-L-O introduces an all star lineup to the Apollo crowd in what quickly turns into a showcase for Labelle’s monstrous singing, upstaging the always hammered-looking Cocker.

Billy Preston – My Sweet Lord

Preston covers George Harrison’s spiritual hit, transforming “My Sweet Lord” into a soul drenched song worthy of uplifting the flock with the Hallelujah choruses getting the power-gospel treatment. Preston’s huge smile and singing chops shine, the early video effects do not.

Beatles – Get Back Let It Be Sessions

His work on the piano driven “Get Back” was rewarded by crediting the song as “The Beatles with Billy Preston” when the single was originally released in 1969. Remarkable as it would be the only Beatles single crediting another artist.

After the jump, Billy’s biggest solo hit.

Posted by Merry Swankster at June 7, 2006 02:20 PM

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